16. Solid Waste Management During and After the COVID-19 Outbreak: Possibilities, Difficulties and Approaches

Solid waste management (SWM) is a municipality function in developing and emerging economies. Sustainable development can be achieved by efficiently using solid waste as a renewable energy source. The Covid-19 epidemic has put additional strain on the waste management sector due to the increased amount of waste created by domestic and medical waste. Efforts to handle growing amounts of Municipal Solid Waste and Solid Medical Waste, and to stop the spread of illness, are now underway through waste containment and recycling programmes driving the development of several biodegradable/compostable alternatives. During a crisis, it is especially important to minimise the harm that municipal solid waste and small municipal waste cause to the environment by sorting trash at the source into contaminated and noncontaminated categories and then applying recycling and appropriate waste management practices. Municipal solid waste management entails collecting, transporting, and disposing of trash properly, including medical waste generated by hospitals and other facilities, should be a top priority nationwide. The scientific community must develop effective ways to manage urban garbage during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in developing nations. Global environmental and health problems might become far more complex and long-lasting if the Covid-19 epidemic effects on human behaviour and waste management were disregarded; the situation would seem very different now. This article examines the issues, alternatives, and solutions for handling municipal and solid waste during and after COVID 19 outbreak. The strategy must be maintained even after the pandemic has ended to lessen long-term environmental and health risks. This will ensure that waste management systems are resilient in future disasters.